Wounded warrior is home recipient

By David DeKunder

Updated 11:01 am, Thursday, January 3, 2013

Photo: Department Of Defense Courtesy P

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Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta congratulates Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ronald Sullivan at the 2012 Warrior Games. Sullivan is to be the recipient of a new home being built in Schertz by the Helping A Hero organization.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta congratulates Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ronald Sullivan at the 2012 Warrior Games. Sullivan is to be the recipient of a new home being built in Schertz by the Helping A Hero

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Sullivan's new home in the Riata subdivision in Schertz is being built through the donations of HelpingaHero.org, a Houston-based non-profit organization, and through the efforts of Chesmar Homes.

HelpingaHero.org builds wheelchair-accessible and adaptive custom homes for severely injured military personnel and their families.

Once his new home is completed early this spring, Sullivan said he will focus on going back to school and making decisions on what he wants to do for the rest of his life. “I have to kind of rethink everything,” he said.

Sullivan decided to build his new home in Schertz because it is closer to his mother and grandparents, who live in Cibolo. He said his family has been with him throughout his recovery and rehabilitation.

“My parents are real excited,” he said. “They'll know I will be able to take care of myself.”

As he waits for the scheduled March completion of his home, Sullivan is keeping busy at his apartment in Selma with his two dogs and participating in the U.S. Paralympic Team, where he competes in track-and-field throwing events.

“It gives me a reason to push myself,” said Sullivan about the Paralympics. “I get to travel around and compete during the season.”

After being in rehab for over a year, Sullivan said moving into his new home will be “a huge step” for him since he retired from the service.

Sullivan said one of the things he will look forward to in his new home is having a backyard.

“I plan to take advantage of the backyard,” he said. “I have two dogs. The apartment is cramped right now. One of the dogs is getting close to 100 pounds and he is getting close to my waist.”

Meredith Iler, HelpingaHero.org founder, said the purpose of the non-profit organization is to build homes for wounded veterans in communities where they will have a support system in place.

“It is helping them establish a foundation for their life and establishing roots in a community where they have emotional support from family and friends,” Iler said.